In a twist that has sent ripples through the football world, Jack Grealish, the charismatic Manchester City winger, finds himself at a career crossroads following a disheartening snub in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace on May 17, 2025. The 29-year-old, once hailed as a cornerstone of City’s 2023 treble-winning campaign, remained an unused substitute in the 2-1 defeat, a decision by manager Pep Guardiola that has fueled speculation about Grealish’s future at the Etihad Stadium. With transfer discussions reportedly set to take place at season’s end, prominent voices in football, including Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer and former Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster, have urged Grealish to seek a move elsewhere to reignite his faltering career, leaving the England star grappling with a “big old dent” to his confidence.
Grealish’s journey at Manchester City began with a record-breaking £100 million transfer from his boyhood club, Aston Villa, in 2021, a move that promised to elevate his game to new heights under Guardiola’s tutelage. At the time, Grealish expressed unbridled enthusiasm, stating, “I am incredibly happy to have joined Manchester City. City are the best team in the country with a manager considered to be the best in the world – it’s a dream come true to be part of this club.” His early years delivered on that promise, with Grealish playing a pivotal role in City’s historic treble, including a full 90 minutes in their 2023 Champions League final triumph over Inter Milan. However, the 2024-25 season has been a stark contrast, with Grealish making just one Premier League start in 2025 and a total of seven starts across the campaign. His limited game time, coupled with no goals and only five assists in 26 appearances, has seen him slip down the pecking order behind younger talents like Savinho, Jeremy Doku, and Omar Marmoush.
The FA Cup final snub was particularly stinging. With City trailing and in desperate need of a spark, Guardiola opted to bring on 18-year-old debutant Claudio Echeverri and veteran Ilkay Gundogan instead of Grealish. Shearer, speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, was unequivocal in his assessment: “His time is up at Man City. He has to leave. For him to bring on a debutant, a young boy, and Gundogan rather than Jack Grealish when they’re desperate for a goal… his time is up. For whatever reason, Pep is done with him, he doesn’t like him.” Foster echoed
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